Rangers Fire Renney and...

According to Sporting News and TSN, the New York Rangers have pulled the reins of the team from coach Tom Renney. of course this is not very surprising, the team has been struggling for awhile, and the axe was due to fall.

No interim has been named as yet, but TSN's Bob Mckenzie thinks that his collegue on the NHL on TSN, John Tortorella could be a possible interim, but he is still under contract with Tampa Bay, and the Rangers would have to get persmission to put him in place. An another avenue could come within the organization,Jim Schoenfeld could also be put in as an interim.

Glen Sather,Rangers Gm,was questionned on Renney's tenure as coach, but in a Bowmanesque way deflected the question to an an another subject, and answered on Scott Gomez's possible cheap shot on Buffalo goalie, Ryan Millier, I will get to that later on.

Renney, like his three counterparts that started their seasons in Europe, all have been fired. If I'm coaching one of the teams slated to start in Europe next year, I would start to worry now, because it's almost as bad as trying to keep a doggy doodoo made puck frozen, stay that way on a sunny 25 degree celcius day in May. After awhile it starts to smell bad.

Who ever comes in for the Rangers, can he change their fortunes and save the season ? We shall find out come April 12th or before.

Gomez hit on Miller

The question did Scott Gomez run Buffalo's Ryan Miller in a chase for the puck ? Greg Wyshynski (aka Puck Daddy) has the video on his blog. After many viewings,I think he should of gotten a penalty and a suspension, like Montreal's Thomas Plekanec got a few weeks ago.If the league is going to be consistent in it's calls, they should review this and suspend Gomez, intentional or not, send a clear message, play your game, but becareful.

The Montreal Soap Opera

How can one write a blog about hockey and not have his say on the latest happenings in the land of ''Les Glorieux''. Checking different sites, a bombshell was about to explode in Montreal Saturday morning. The so called ''bombshell'' made the 1970 October crisis look like kids play. I'm not playing down the story itself, but the magnitude that the Montreal media made it sound like.Oh whoopy do,a few of the Canadiens players where at the wrong place at the wrong time. As if it has never happened to those so called brillant media guys ? Maybe the organization should start to put tags on them, and see how they feel when someone puts their nose in their personal lives. Not the same when the shoe is on the other foot hey guys ? There only fault, they have more money in their pockets than we did at their age, sounds like jealousy to me boys.

What I find the most interesting in all of this, is that, the ''big bad media'' in Montreal, most of them when they started their careers,it was at a time when the team was winning back to back Stanley cups,they were eating out of Scotty Bowman's hand.They befriended players, such as Lafleur,Shutt,Robinson,Savard,Lapointe,Tremblay, to make sure that their relatives had the best places for the cup parade. Of course they won't admit to it.

I find a bit weird, that when the team is going thru a slump,they find ways to blow the team out of the water, with such childish garbage like we saw. Oh this is the best part, come July 1st, when Bob Gainey is looking to bring in a top UFA, they will be the first to critize him for not being able to.Boys maybe it's time you look at yourselves in the mirror, because if those UFA's don't want to come, it could be that their getting encouraged not too with what their read. Ever thought of that ?

Players playing in the other five canadian markets, at least get the respect of how they conduct themselves off-ice, and are not tracked like prey, if they just happen to act human. You don't see journalist at their door as if it was a police sting, even the cops are more discreet when doing so.


Time for the Montreal media to make a difference between the player and the human wearing a red white and blue jersey. Once done, maybe, and say maybe, it might have a chance to attract a player or players, that want to come win there.

As born Montrealer,I want to see the Canadiens win games and the cup on a regular basis, but until the media stops it's hounding of players and their private lives, we could be awhile until we see the cup in Montreal again.

I feel much better now.

That's all for now Folks.

Who could be in and out and....

The Countdown is now started to the 2009 NHL tradedeadline, with that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to do an update on both conference possible final standings. It will take at least 93 points in the East to make the playoffs, and 89 + in the West.

Conference Final Standings Projection

Eastern Conference Rank Team Points 1 Boston 124 2 Washington 112 3 New Jersey 109 4 Philadelphia 103 5 Rangers 95* 6 Florida 95** 7 Montreal 95 8 Buffalo 93 9 Carolina 86 10 Pittsburgh 85 11 Ottawa 78 12 Toronto 75 13 Tampa Bay 70 14 Atlanta 66 15 Islanders 58

Western Conference Rank Team Points 1 San Jose 127 2 Detroit ** 119 3 Calgary 104 4 Chicago 107 5 Dallas 92* 6 Vancouver 92 7 Columbus 90 8 Edmonton 89 9 Minnesota 88 10 Los Angeles 86 11 Anaheim 85 12 Nashville 81 13 St-Louis 79 14 Colorado 77 15 Phoenix 76

*More Wins ** Goal differential

*More Wins ** Defending Champs

T eams have played two thirds of their schedules, and on average have about 25 games or less to get back in to the hunt or to maintain their ranks in the standings in both conferences.Alot of hockey still to be played until we find out the true standings for this year's playoffs. Folks, time will start to run out for some of them, which could determine who will be buyers and sellers on tradedeadline day. So follow your team's play in the next two weeks, it will give you an idea.

Whacky Trade Rumours

Lyle Richardson, aka Spector, dissects the wacky internet trade rumours.Before we get to them and Lyle's take on. Anyone that follows hockey, espacially since the end of the lock-out, knows it has become harder and harder to make trades,or for some Gm's who made mistakes, they can't bury them anymore, they are stuck with them until the end of the season, where he can buy that player out, a practice of last resort, also depending on the contract and the salary. Three rules of thumb must be applied, one the cap space and two, does it make sense, long term. Three, if you are the Gm on the other end of trade rumour, would you make it ?

Ok,now on two the fun. Kovalev for Satan, no way, it would just exchanging problems, may as well live with Kovalev than create more problems for yourself. I agree with Lyle, Gainey will go down an another road.

Oh we have not forgotten Vinny Lecavalier in of all of this, I'm not saying it won't or could not happen, but it won't at the tradedeadline. I don't believe that The Rangers will be able to pick him at the deadline, even less,in the off season.

As Pierre McGuire would put it, Clemmensen has been a monster for the Devils, he also got a lot of help from his teammates. A black cloud went over the team when Brodeur went down,some even thinking a certain exclusion from the playoffs. This team instead, came together and weathered the storm. It would be a good idea if the Canadiens players use the Devils as an example to get out of their slump.

Clemmensen is going nowhere.

I agree with Lyle on the three way swap between the Penguins, Leafs and Trashers, it won't happen.

That's all for now folks.

Habs Acquire Schneider and...

Canadiens Gm,Bob Gainey,acquired former Habs defenseman, Mathieu Schneider from the Atlanta Trashers. In return, the Trashers acquire Montreal's 2 round draft choice in 2009 (from Washington) and 3rd round choice in 2010.Atlanta also sent a conditional pick along with Schneider. This deal should not really come as a surprise to anyone,as Gainey has been looking all season for such a veteran defenseman. A lot of critics will say, why Mathieu Schneider ? Why not, he is still capable to help the Canadiens. How much, that remains to be seen, but he can't do any worse than the present defense corps on the powerplay. I think he will be a good addition to the team.It's not like he has never played in Montreal before. I don't think he wanted to leave Montreal, just as Kirk Muller, when both were traded in 1995. Both will be reunited along with Guy Carbonneau, who was captain when Canadiens won the cup sixteen years ago, along with Brisebois, who was up to now the last surviving and still playing member of that team. Schneider will also recognize some familiar faces in the traveling press corps, in Benoit Brunet, who is now a commentator on RDS, along with analyst and coach of the Canadiens in 1993, Jacques Demers.

Mathieu is well aware of the pressures in playing in the fishbowl that is Montreal, and that the team is celebrating it's 100th season. I think Schneider can be a calming force and will be helpful in long run.

Welcome Back Mathieu !

At least one person from the Montreal Press, sees Schneider as a good thing for the Canadiens.

Former RDS comentator, Yvon Pedneault gives his take on the trade.

While Schneider was making his way to Montreal, his former team beat the Kings 7-6 in the shootout.

Therrien Cut loose in Pittsburgh

Not too long after seeing his team get trounced in the third period by the Maple Leafs, Michel Therrien was notified that his term of employment as head coach of the Penguins was going to end. This is not the first time Therrien has been fired. In January 2003, then coach of the Canadiens, he was notified that he no longer had a job, and was replaced by Claude Julien, who suffered the same faith three years later, when Bob Gainey also pulled the plug, and took over for the remainder of the 2005-06 season.

After leading the Young Pens to the Cup finals, Therrien signed a new three year extension, so I doubt that he is too worried about his financial security for the next two years. Guys like Therrien who eat and breath the profession they practice, don't usually sit home and feel sorry for themselves. If Therrien needs comfort, all he has to do, is look at Claude Julien.

I doubt that he stays unemployed for too long. As Stephen Knight puts it, some job will come up sooner than later. As coaches like Andy Murray, Tony Granato and yes even Gretzky, could be on the bubble and dismissed in the off season.

As far as his replacement goes, Dan Bylsma, I doubt that he will be a long term solution. I think the front-runner, even though it has not been mentionned, is Pat Quinn. Quinn impressed a lot of people in his handling of Team Canada in the WJC tournament, and has a pretty good relationship with Pens Owner Mario Lemieux.

Could Therrien's dismissal be the beginning of some shake up trades for the Pens ? Possible, the next two weeks will tell us that.

McGuire's Team Canada Selections

Last night on the NHL on TSN pre-game show, Pierre McGuire released his choices for team Canada in Vancouver next year for the Olympic games. When you look at the composition of the team, you can see that Pierre learned from the old master himself, Scotty Bowman. Good speed, grit, well balanced offensif and defensif minded players.Strong down the middle and on the wings. On defense, a combination of both rushing and stay at home defensemen. In goal, was a no brainer, how can you miss with Marty Brodeur, backed up by Luongo. This will be a good learning experience for Carey Price, hang around a guy that has made his living at winning and collecting Stanley cups, you should learn a thing or two about winning, pressure, but best of all, having fun doing it, when that happens, Brodeur would most likely tell you, the two first will take care of themselves.

Komisarek and …..

Bob Gainey has been General Manager in Montreal for almost 6 years now, he has not buckled under the media and fan pressure so far, and surely won´t start doing so because Komisarek´s agent would like to hear word from him. I doubt that any NHL General Managers set their agendas to please player agents, Gainey is no different. Why the rush ?

The cap may go down a bit this year, but it´s the next two to three years that Gainey must be beware of, that is why he may have put off talks with his UFA´s so far. As permitted in the CBA, players can negotiate extensions in the last year of their present deals, including players on one year deals, who could do so only after January 1^st.

Don´t worry Habs fans, Gainey wants to see Komisarek in a Bleu, blanc et Rouge sweater as much as you all do.

A little thing you must know

Trades and the cap count,I think it's worthy to go over, as even with almost four years done in the CBA on the subject there is still misconception about it.Ok let's go thru this, it's important.I hope I explain this right and not confuse people. We all know the tradedeadline is the most exciting time of the year for hockey fans, just as christmas is to everyone else, we agree. We all know or have heard the term, balancing the books. Well making a trade is a bit the same. Let's use the example of player that has a chance to move at the deadline. It might not be a good one, but I will use it anyways, Doug Weight of the Islanders. His cap hit was 4,3million at the beginning of the year. Of course, the Islanders have paid a good portion of it since then. So that number in a way is no longer valid. So take his 4,3 million dollar cap hit, and divide by 187 (days in the cap count) it will give you his daily amount, which comes up to 22,995, 65 $ a day. Take that number and multiply by 117, it will give how much he has taken up so far in the Islanders cap count so far. For sake of arguement, it comes up to 2,7 million. So 4,3 million minus 2.7 million, it gives you 1.6 million. That would be the cap space that a team would need to acquire him.

That is the easy part. Now the Islanders, receive in return a player that let's say that has a million dollars in salary owed. So the savings for the Islanders is 600k. True. On the other end the team that acquired him or trying to must have the 600k absorb it. If not, the deal is dead,unless the team that acquired him, had a player eliglible for LTIR, that made same salary as Weight or had the extra cap space to take on the rest. In the end, what I' m saying, is that at the end of the year, the beans have to be well aligned, and make Mr. Bettman happy, if not you will hear about it.

So next time you propose a trade, keep in mind the rule above, and your trade proposal may just make sense. If you have a player with a multi-year contract coming back, make sure your team has the cap space to absorb it.

I hope it was not too complicated. Yes it's what Gm's and their capologist have to keep in mind, when they want to shake things up. It's the reasons why we see so few trades. If the beans don't add up, wait til they do. Remember when Mom use to tell you to save up your good deads for a rainy day, well it's the same.The more good deads you had, the better bargainning power you had for favors, you wanted and needed. Right ?

That's all for now folks !

Hartsburg's Firing and...

Hartsburg in my opinion should be commended for accepting to come in to an all already messy situation, he gets canned by the guy that created it in the first place. It's simple,when Murray took over as Gm, following the dismissal of former Gm, John Muckler, he handcuffed his successor to a major problem in Ray Emery. A problem that should of been Bryan Murray's first order of business as the new General Manager. Emery would of had a good value on the trade market following the cup run he helped backstop.

Bryan Murray had been in the NHL long enough to know that keeping Emery was bad for business, based on his antics during the cup final and it was time for him to go. Instead Murray sat on his hands and watched the ticking time bomb blow, by then it was too late. Murray cans Paddock, and did not fair much better behind the bench than his former coach. The Sens were swept in four straight games by the Penguins last spring.

Murray depleted his defense corps last summer, when he traded Mezrasos to Tampa Bay, and lost Wade Redden for nothing to free agency. Probably worse of all, Murray may have strapped his team cap wise for years to come, by giving three players long term contracts, that will be hard to get rid of. Spezza, Heatley and Fisher. I have never been a big Bryan Murray fan as a coach, but I will give him credit for his work during the two seasons he was behind the bench. He had a good grasp on the team and it responded, that where he should of stayed. He may have shot himself in the foot by accepting the Gm job.

Don't expect to see him at the draft in June in Montreal, he could be gone either at the end of season or before. Sens owner could find himself with three former coaches and a Gm on the payroll standing in the umemployment line.

Flyers wish to retain Knuble

According to the Fourth period's David Pagnotta, the Flyers would like to keep forward Mike Knuble past the March 4th tradedeadline. But cap issues could make it difficult retaining him in to next season. Pagnotta even goes to suggest that if the Flyers could move Daniel Brière's contract, it would help them with their cap issues, but giving Brière's hefty contract and no mouvement contract, it's easier said than done. Now your a Canadiens fan, your at home,you must be very happy that he chose Philadelphia over Montreal.

Recchi On the move again ?

Not that I am suggesting Bob Gainey would do it, but would a Koivu-Recchi reunion be a good or bad thing for the Canadiens ? I have noted my reservations about the former Canadiens right winger. Is he the same guy that he was when he left Montreal, or has he matured ? It's surely an another option among many that Canadiens Gm, Bob Gainey will be looking at in the next few weeks. His team has been in slump for the last two to three weeks, he will look at all angles on how to help get out of it, espacially with his team going on possibly it's longest road trip of the year.

That's all for now folks !